Written questions by Jogee.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the state of the UK dairy sector.

This Government recognises that food security is national security, and that this requires a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports our farmers, including those in the UK’s world leading dairy sector. Our dairy industry is a vibrant and resilient sector worth £5-£6 billion at farm level, and many times that when the milk produced is processed into a diverse range of products and commodities. This has helped make the dairy industry the UK’s largest agricultural sector accounting for 19% of total 2023 UK agricultural output, bringing significant value to our economy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the National Beef Association.

We engage regularly with a number of key stakeholders, including the National Beef Association, to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the beef sector that are important to both producers and processors.

Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support he is giving to farmers to conduct tuberculosis tests on their cattle.

The Government funds the cost of routine bovine tuberculosis (bTB) testing through contracts with veterinary delivery partners. The Government also pays compensation for cattle compulsorily slaughtered to control the spread of bTB.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45551, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including (a) Portsmouth Urban Area, (b) Reading/Wokingham Urban Area, (c) Sheffield Urban Area, (d) The Potteries and (e) Tyneside in the 2024 National Compliance Assessment.

Portsmouth Urban Area, Reading/Wokingham Urban Area, Sheffield Urban Area, The Potteries and Tyneside are all included in the 2024 national air quality compliance assessment. The national assessment is based on a combination of monitoring and modelling which has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 for formally assessing compliance with air quality limits.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of aligning the UK's PM2.5 air quality targets with the World Health Organisation’s 2021 guidelines.

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan is due to include further details on the PM2.5 air quality targets set under the Environment Act 2021. The World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines will continue to inform our evidence when considering future targets.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the Government’s approach to climate adaptation.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. Ministers and officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are working with departments on the issue of climate adaptation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of publishing a heat strategy.

The National Adaptation Programme, published in 2023, sets out in a single document the programme of actions that government is taking to address climate risk, including on overheating.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the registration dates for industry under UK REACH.

We are aware of stakeholder concerns about the feasibility of these dates and will provide further information in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include discussions on the future co-operation on chemical regulations in the annual UK-EU summits.

Co-operation with the EU on chemical regulations is provided for under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether closer co-operation on chemical regulations was discussed at the UK-EU Summit on 18 May 2025.

Co-operation with the EU on chemical regulations is provided for under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish his Department's strategy for (a) the chemicals industry and (b) chemicals management.

The Chemicals industry is noted as a key foundational sector within the Industrial Strategy which helps underpin almost all other manufacturing sectors, including priority sectors such as Advanced Manufacturing. Delivery of a Chemicals Strategy to establish a regulatory approach and priorities for the sustainable use of chemicals was a commitment included in the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023. Defra’s future approach to chemicals management will be set out in the revised EIP, which will be published later in 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department had with the Paymaster General regarding UK-EU trade and environmental standards prior to the UK-EU summit in London on 18 May 2025.

Ministerial colleagues have had and maintain regular discussions with the Cabinet Office and other relevant departments on UK-EU trade and environmental standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the consultation on the UK REACH Alternative Transitional Registration model (ATRm) for chemicals.

Defra will set out its approach to chemicals regulation in due course. This will include explaining what approach is being taken towards the UK REACH alternative transitional registration model (ATRm), which was subject to public consultation in 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to support the natural regeneration of trees in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Across England, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier does provide grant support for natural regeneration (including WD2 and WS2) in line with a UK Forestry Standard approved Woodland Management Plan. These grants are demand led, which means that the Forestry Commission welcomes applicants for sites that meet the criteria from any constituency. In addition to supporting natural regeneration of woodland within existing woodlands through Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier there is grant support for natural colonisation (woodland expansion through natural processes) through the England Woodland Creation Offer. We do not collate this information at constituency or county level.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent engagement he has had with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Defra Animal Welfare Minister, periodically meets with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). Most recently the Minister met both the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) at a visit to Chester Zoo on 22 May 2025, ahead of the launch of the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain and also hosted an Animal Welfare Strategy development roundtable, which BIAZA attended. Defra officials also have regular meetings with BIAZA.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to update the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain.

The Government published new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain on 24 May 2025. The Standards will come into force from May 2027 and will replace the current 2012 Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice. The new Standards reflect the latest in best practice for keeping wild animals in zoos and aquariums.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of updates to the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain on animal welfare standards at zoos.

The Government published new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain on 24 May 2025. The Standards will come into force from May 2027 and will replace the current 2012 Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice. The new Standards reflect the latest in best practice for keeping wild animals in zoos and aquariums.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to tackle livestock worrying in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

This Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. The Government is supporting a Private Members’ Bill which will amend and update the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. The Bill will modernise definitions and scope, strengthen police powers and increase the maximum penalty from a fine of £1,000 to an “unlimited” fine to act as a deterrent. The legislation will apply to England and Wales.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons wildfire warning signs have been installed on English moorland.

The decision to install signage has been made at a local level by Moors for the Future Partnership and Peak District National Park Authority.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to improve standards for kept animals.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department is engaging with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of our overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more details on this in due course.